Root Division.
In a room as dark as a sewer, hidden from sunlight year-round like roots buried underground.
Danzo, wrapped like a mummy and leaning on a cane, stared coldly downward, displeasure written all over his face. "Ryoma, with your skills, you couldn't even handle a fledgling Uchiha brat? You've disappointed me greatly!"
His tone was harsh, and his words were even more severe.
Root Division was managed with extreme strictness, and its internal rules and disciplinary codes were cruel enough to inspire terror.
A Root Division member who failed a mission could very well be stripped of everything—their identity, name, family, friends, past, and more—before vanishing from the world.
After hearing Danzo's reprimanding tone, the Root Division members nearby showed a hint of sympathy for Aburame Ryoma, who was kneeling below.
"My apologies, Lord Danzo. Uchiha Sōgetsu was very cautious, and I sensed Lord Hokage's technique, so I stopped the mission on my own initiative."
Aburame Ryoma knelt on one knee. Though his head was lowered deeply, there was not even a bit of reverence in his eyes.
Having already seen a "dragon," how could he possibly fear an old rat hiding in a gutter?
Danzo's face darkened—or rather, it was always like that.
Although this mission had failed, he had no intention of punishing Aburame Ryoma. After all, Ryoma was his most capable right-hand man.
It was only a minor mistake. A few words of reprimand would be enough, Danzo thought, intending to let Ryoma make up for it once he opened his mouth to beg for mercy.
However, the hall was completely silent.
Danzo waited for a long time, almost thinking he was hearing things, yet Aburame Ryoma still did not utter a word. "Ahem... Ryoma, is there nothing else you wish to say?"
"This subordinate has failed Lord Danzo's expectations and is willing to bear responsibility," Aburame Ryoma said.
"You..." Danzo could not keep face after that. His old, wrinkled face became even uglier.
Fortunately, another Root Division member noticed his leader's embarrassment and hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. "Lord Danzo, I do not think this mission's failure was entirely Ryoma's fault. Lord Hokage's intentions... I believe he was warning us."
"Since that is the case, then the punishment will be waived."
Danzo quickly took the out offered to him. "Ryoma, your mission remains unchanged. Continue monitoring Uchiha Sōgetsu and report everything about him, but do not act rashly for now!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Aburame Ryoma slowly rose to his feet and left the room.
Watching the back view of his most trusted subordinate leave, a trace of unease inexplicably flashed through Danzo's heart. Was that an illusion? Why did Ryoma seem a little distant?
Meanwhile, the departing Aburame Ryoma became increasingly resolute.
"My choice was not wrong."
"Just as Lord Sōgetsu said, Danzo is merely a rat hiding in a gutter. He does not even have the courage to look directly at the sunlight."
"Someone like that... is not worth following, much less can he offer the 'peace of mind' I seek!"
"Lord Sōgetsu, I will clear away every obstacle for you!"
Within the dark passageway, Ryoma's eyes grew ever brighter and firmer.
By the time Sōgetsu returned to the Uchiha Residence, it was nearly sunset.
Sōgetsu had only just returned when he ran into a woman.
"Sōgetsu, you're back? Fugaku has been waiting for you for quite a while. He said he has something to discuss with you." The woman held her pregnant belly, her face overflowing with happiness.
But after noticing Sōgetsu's exhausted expression, she asked worriedly, "Are you all right? You look rather tired. Should I have Fugaku come see you another day instead?"
"I'm fine, Lady Mikoto." Sōgetsu forced a faint smile, though his gaze fell upon her belly. "You should be more careful since you're pregnant. Take good care of yourself."
If nothing unexpected happened, the famous Uchiha "filial son" should be in there.
Mikoto smiled with pursed lips, her right hand caressing her slightly swollen belly. A maternal glow radiated from her slightly plump face. "It's all right, the baby is still early along. I had nothing to do sitting in my room, so I simply came with Fugaku to see you."
"Lady Mikoto, since Lord Fugaku has been waiting for me so long, I'll go see him first. My apologies." Sōgetsu excused himself and pushed open the door.
"You're back?"
Uchiha Fugaku was seated inside. Seeing him enter, he beckoned. "Sit. Judging by your appearance, it seems you ran into some trouble?"
He had come all this way specifically to ask about this now?
After giving it some thought, Sōgetsu decided to tell half-truths and half-lies. He nodded slightly, revealed a trace of bitterness, and clenched his teeth in feigned resentment. "You were right. It seems my joining the Anbu has touched certain people's nerves."
"Danzo?" A sharp glint flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, though he concealed it well. He said calmly, "He made a move against you?"
Judging from the aura of Fugaku's Ether Body, he had clearly known about this already.
Interesting. He had obviously known, yet he had not warned him.
The head of a great Konoha clan truly was not such a simple man.
Sōgetsu sneered inwardly.
Then, he pretended to clench his fists and suppress his anger. "That's right, it was Danzo. That man intended to make a move against me, but for some reason, he suddenly left afterward."
"I never expected the Uchiha Clan's situation to have become so dangerous." Uchiha Fugaku sounded both wistful and sorrowful. "We were originally the greatest contributors among the clans that founded Konoha, yet now we have fallen to this point. After the Senju Clan, could it be that we too must..."
Fugaku did not finish the latter half of his sentence, yet it seemed as if he had said everything.
"Lord Fugaku, you mean..." Sōgetsu widened his eyes in "shock."
"Enough. Say no more, Sōgetsu."
Fugaku wore an apologetic expression, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "I will go to Lord Hokage for you and demand an explanation from Danzo!"
"Lord Fugaku..." Sōgetsu appeared deeply moved, his face filled with "gratitude," before falling into hesitation. "But if we do this, won't it make Danzo hate us even more?"
"Say no more, Sōgetsu."
Fugaku straightened his back, his gaze imposing. "No matter what, you are a member of our Uchiha Clan. For you, and for all of us, I must go to Lord Hokage!"
"Thank you, Lord Fugaku."
Sōgetsu thanked him sincerely.
"We are of the same clan. We should help one another."
Fugaku gave his shoulder a heavy pat. "Sōgetsu, you are already a jonin and qualified to attend the clan meetings. Remember to come to Naka Shrine tomorrow."
"Yes, Lord Fugaku."
Sōgetsu agreed aloud, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
"All right, get some proper rest." Fugaku fully played the part of an elder, saying with concern, "Don't forget that you will always be a member of the Uchiha Clan. We are family."
"I understand, Lord Fugaku."
Sōgetsu clenched his fists and said with a firm gaze, "I will always be a member of the Uchiha Clan. What happened today has shown me that neither Danzo nor that man can be trusted!"
"It is for the best that you understand."
Fugaku smiled and said mysteriously, "Look forward to tomorrow. Our Uchiha Clan is far more than what you have seen."
With that, Fugaku left, taking his wife by the arm. The two walked away laughing, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Watching their back views, Sōgetsu curled his lips into an amused smile.
So this was Fugaku's true purpose.
He had deliberately concealed the news, using Danzo's methods to make Sōgetsu resent the Hokage's faction and thereby firmly choose the Uchiha Clan.
Who would have thought that Uchiha Fugaku, who seemed so harmless in the manga, was not lacking in scheming or methods at all?
And he was wildly ambitious!
Perhaps the Uchiha Clan's rebellion in the original work was not caused solely by external factors. It was likely inseparably tied to internal ones as well.
December 6th, sunny.
The entire office had caught Influenza A. I could only watch as it closed in around me... When the hell will I finally be able to quit this damn job?! Aaaaaah!
Before you continue